- Activist Feedback
- Essay: Judgment versus Being Judgmental
- This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and
Mary Hoffman
- The May-June Peaceable Table Is Now
Online
1. Activist Feedback
Rick, who tabled at St. Louis Earth Day with Bill, Joe, Melissa,
Julia, Acya, Cindy, and Karen, writes;
We enjoyed very
pleasant weather and a large receptive crowd. Thanks to Karen’s
networking efforts, Acya volunteered and staffed the booth for several
hours. It was Acya’s first time, and she did a great job! We
gave out from the table 150 CVA booklets, 50 “Vegetarianism and the
Major World Religions,” 50 coloring books, 50 “Tasty Veg Recipes,” 25
“Christianity and Vegetarianism,” and about 200 secular booklets. We
signed up 34 new CVA members.
Karen and I also leafleted out
in the crowd considerably, and we handed out over 1000 booklets.
Upcoming Activist Opportunities
5/30-6/1 OR Portland
Joyce Meyers Conference
5/30-6/1 OR Portland
Joyce Meyers Conference
6/1 TN
East Ridge Jfest
6/8
MO Kansas City Heartfest
6/11
TN Chattanooga Newsboys @ the River Bend
Festival
6/11 AZ
Phoenix
Rhett Walker Band
6/15 GA Atlanta
Newsboys @ AtlantaFest
6/17-21 FL Panama City
Beach Extreme Conference
6/20-22 OH
Canal Fulton Alive
Festival
6/21 TX Arlington
Unveiled Youth Evangelism Conference
6/21-22 MO
Bethany
Lifelight Festival
6/21-22 TN Nashville
Promise Keepers Men’s Conference
6/22
NC Concord
Faith Family & Freedom 2013
6/26-29 PA Mt Union
Creationfest
6/27 OH Kings
Island SpiritSong
Festival
6/27 VA Doswell
Newsong
6/27 VA Doswell
Kings Fest
7/21-20 IA Cedar Falls
Promise Keepers Men’s Conference
8/7-10 WA
Enumclaw
Creationfest
8/23
MI Battle Creek
Promise Keepers Men’s Conference
8/30-9/1 SD Worthing
The Lifelight Festival
9/20 OK Tulsa
Promise Keepers Men’s Conference
10/25
FL Daytona
Promise Keepers Men’s Conference
2. Essay: Judgment versus Being Judgmental
It is crucial that we discern right from wrong in order to behave
ethically, but this encourages us to judge other people as good or
evil. Jesus discouraged judging other people, and he said, "Judge not,
that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will
be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why
do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice
the log that is in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:1-3).
There are
at least two good reasons for not judging others: none of us is
perfect, and we don’t know what motivates other people. Perhaps they
“know not what they do” (Luke 23:34); perhaps they believe they have
no choice other than to act in harmful ways; perhaps they know
something we don’t know such that what seems evil to us is in fact a
relatively righteous choice.
This perspective favors treating
all individuals with respect. What about those who are actively
harming others? I think we need to do what we can to stop those who
victimize others, and sometimes this means using force (possibly even
lethal force). This raises another dilemma: Given the power of humans
to deceive themselves, when we use potentially harmful force, how do
we know that we are acting out of good intentions rather than
justifying our own self-interest? In other words, how can we be sure
that we’re preventing victimization rather being victimizers
ourselves? I’ll explore that question next week.
Stephen R.
Kaufman, M.D.
3. This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and
Mary Hoffman
Restoring God’s Heavenly Kingdom
4. The May-June Peaceable Table Is Now
Online
http://www.vegetarianfriends.net/issue96.html
Contents
include:
The Editor's Corner Essay, "Return to Eden," follows
up on "I Am a True Beast" (PT 81), taking up animal themes in another
of C.S. Lewis' Narnian novels, The Magician's Nephew. This story
telling of Narnia's creation shows animals as involved in two
important themes: the tearing down of (Earth) barriers of social
rank, and the cooperation of both humans and animals with the Divine
work of creating and healing.
"Take it on down to Veganville,"
sings Justin Timberlake in a pro-veg skit from a mid-March Saturday
Night Live. Don't miss the link to this amusing vignette in the
NewsNotes.
The Recipe column features two delectable creations
of vegan chef Alan Roettinger: "Fennel Slaw"and "Green Curry
with Tofu and Baby Bok Choy," both just right for spring and early
summer.
One of our reviewers, historian of religion Robert
Ellwood, describes and evaluates Animals and World Religions, by Lisa
Kemmerer as the best book he has encountered of pro-animal teachings
and ideals in world religions. It is valuable for inquirers and
for activists reaching out to people for whom their religion's
teachings would be a deciding factor in their response to the animal
concern. The author does not intend to deal with the grim side
of many religious people's actual attitudes toward and treatment of
animals.
Toward the Peaceable Kingdom,
Gracia Fay
Ellwood, Editor